Class AAA Rochester needs a spot starter. Danny Graves needs to face as many hitters as possible.

So Graves will start tonight for Rochester against Buffalo and probably throw three innings, if he’s effective.  He’s a reliever, but it’s a good way for him to face a lot of hitters and be evaluated. Graves, 34, signed with the Twins just before the minor league season began and has pitched at Class A Fort Myers and Class AA New Britain.

My intuition tells me that Graves could become an option to be called up if he pitches well. His fastball is coming in around 87-88 miles an hour but the Twins say it’s got good movement. You might want to keep an eye on the Rochester box score tonight.

Couple other notes:

Jim Rantz, the Twins director of minor leagues, just pulled into Beloit to watch the Snappers play for a few days. Ben Revere, who was named Twins minor league player of the week yesterday, has an 11-game hitting streak.

For those of you who like to keep up with such things, the Twins’ 40-man roster currently sits at 38, with the ability to go to 37 if they move Pat Neshek to the 60-day disabled list. They would have room to add Graves, Kevin Mulvey, Tim Lahey, or anyone they want to.

Update: Graves have thrown three perfect innings, striking out two. Here’s the link.

Don’t know what your plans are tomorrow, but I am THE the guest host on KFAN from 10-Noon on Sunday. We can talk all the Twins you want but I’m willing to talk about other subjects like the TPC, hockey and hoops playoffs, football and more!!!!!!

So bring it!!!!!

Folks, it’s not good.

Twins righthander Pat Neshek has been diagnosed with an acute partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He will not do any throwing for at least three months, which makes it doubtful that he’ll return before the end of the season.

I’m just guessing here, but Neshek may go visit a specialist to get another opinion. The press release didn’t say anything about surgery being needed, but you wonder about surgery since it involves the ever-important ulnar ligament.

 Brendan Harris left Friday’s game with a tight right hamstring.

Nick Punto’s left hamstring is still sore, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire wasn’t sure if he would be available at all tonight.

So the Twins are taking on the Red Sox with 23 players 9:30 p.m. update: 22 players.

Red Sox (23-14): 1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF. 2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B. 3. David Ortiz, DH. 4. Manny Ramirez, LF. 5. Mike Lowell, 3B. 6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B. 7. J.D. Drew, RF. 8. Jason Varitek, C. 9. Juilo Lugo, SS. Pitching: Jon Lester.

Twins (17-16): 1. Carlos Gomez, CF. 2. Brendan Harris. 2B. 3. Joe Mauer, C. 4. Justin Morneau, 1B. 5. Michael Cuddyer, RF. 6. Jason Kubel, DH. 7. Delmon Young, LF. 8. Matt Tolbert, 3B. 9 Adam Everett, SS. Pitching: Boof Bonser.

Heard a little while ago that Pat Neshek has had a MRI exam on his right elbow and that Twins doctors were meeting this afternoon to go over the results. We should know by game time what’s up with the sidearmer from Brooklyn Park.

I have seen three no-hitters in person in my lifetime. Bret Saberhagen’s against the White Sox in 1991, David Wells’ perfect game against the Twins in 1998 and Eric Milton’s no-no against the Angels in 1999.

If Gavin Floyd had pulled off a no-no against the Twins on Tuesday it would have been the sloppiest, most unjust no-hitter that I can remember.

 Floyd was far from overpowering. In fact, I sent Joe C. a text message around the fourth inning remarking how Floyd couldn’t get ANY breaking pitches or his change up, over for strikes. I was convinced that the Twins would sit on the fastball and start pounding him. I thought Nick Blackburn pitched than Floyd in the early innings but didn’t have the results to show for it.

That great adjustment by Twins hitters never came, which was disappointing coming off of their game against Kenny Rogers on Sunday.

One thing I noticed was that the Twins, while trying to have good at-bats,  took a few fastballs down the middle for strike one. I really thought they were going to get to Floyd. Floyd didn’t even get a curveball over for a called strike until the seventh inning, based on my recollections.

The Twins should have hit this guy. I know its easy for me to write that from my position but geez….

 How about Joe Mauer? Two big hits in two games.

Everyone will talk about how well Floyd pitched on Tuesday. I won’t. The Twins created the mess.